WASHINGTON — Rep. Walter B. Jones of North Carolina has introduced a bill to prevent the use of U.S. military force in war without the consent of Congress.

The bipartisan legislation would amend the United States War Powers Resolution of 1973, which was passed in response to the extended Vietnam War.

Jones submitted the bill Sept. 25 and announced it Thursday at a press conference with three of five co-sponsors. One of them, Rep. Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts, a Democrat, is a member of the House subcommittee on foreign affairs which will first hear the bill. Also present were Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and Rep. Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland, both Republicans. The other co-sponsors are Rep. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii and and Rep. Robert Brady of Pennsylvania, both Democrats. [...]

“This has to do with the Constitution and it has to do with the future,” said Jones. “From what I have seen Congress has not met its constitutional duty regarding oversight.” [...]

Jones said the framers of the U.S. Constitution sought to decentralize U.S. war powers with those checks.

“Throughout American history, this balance too often has been ignored,” he said. “Since U.S. involvement in Korea, presidents of both parties have used military force abroad without the consent of Congress.”

The bill specifically prohibits presidential entry into future hostilities without congressional action except to repel and retaliate for an attack on the U.S. or U.S. troops, or to protect and evacuate U.S. citizens.

It would strengthen requirements for presidential reporting to Congress to keep members better informed, improve congressional oversight, and tie the purse strings of operations initiated without compliance.

Jones said he and his staff have been working on the bill for over six months and have conferred with a panel of constitutional experts over the last month to help.

Such a wonderful bi-partisan effort! So what does David Broder, Dean of the "We need more bipartisanship in Washington" School of Beltway Pundits have to say about this? Well, I'll let him speak for himself:

*crickets chirping*

Indeed, the only other media outlets to cover this story were Voice of America and The Huffington Post. In light of the relentless push by Bush and his supporters for military action (i.e., aggressive war) against Iran, you'd think this mutual effort by lawmakers from both parties to reach across the aisle in support of our Constitution's system of checks and balances would have garnered more attention when it was announced by Representatives Jones, Delahunt, Paul and Gilchrist five (yes, 5) fricking days ago. But then we live in Bush's America, where the mainstream corporate media coverage of the Bush administration puts the old Soviet propaganda mouthpiece, Pravda, to shame.

Nonetheless, media coverage regarding this legislation is bound to increase should it ever come up for a debate in the House of Representatives. Of course, who knows what the Democratic Leadership, those stalwarts of protecting our Constitutional values (*cough*) will do with this resolution. Will they proceed with all due speed to bring it up for consideration by the full House? Or will the delicate sensibilities of the Bush Dogs (ever faithful and loyal to their master, President 24% approval rating) cause the Democratic leaders in the House to decide that standing up for the Constitution is simply a poor political "stratgery" at this time? Clearly, however, the ball is now firmly in Nancy Pelosi's court. So Madam Speaker: when will this bi-partisan legislation get a hearing, and an up or down vote, before the full House? Interested observers would like to know.